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This post provides regular updates on the disaster relief happening in the Texas District. This can be done by mailing a check to: Texas District Relief c/o Mrs. Linda Hagge 7900 Highway 290 East Austin, TX 78724 After surveying multiple sites and carefully planning with our partners around Texas,

Of no surprise to most reading this blog, people in congregations are sometimes in conflict with one another—even those with the best intentions. Several months ago, I wrote about how Paul and Barnabas handled their conflict, recorded in Acts 15—specifically focusing on what was NOT recorded to have taken place.

Matt Lauer. Garrison Keillor. Add them to the growing list of men who have been hurtful, domineering, abusive, and careless toward women. Add them to the anonymous reservoir of gratuitous cads who have victimized and continue to victimize countless women. The public scandal is but the tip of the proverbial

Life does not feel valuable when standing in a security line at an airport. When you are just one more body in a crowded line being hustled through body scans and luggage inspections, your unique existence doesn’t matter. It’s a humbling reality check. Each one of us is just one

When does an individual, family, or congregation decide to be generous? How does that come about? What does it take to give in a way that reflects God’s gift in Jesus? When does stewardship in our faith life change from something we have to do to the thing we love

Do you remember the old “Tootsie Pop” commercial, with the cartoon owl who was asked, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? One, two, three, crunch!” Okay, I realize that may a bit of a silly comparison, but I have discovered that

A national day of Thanksgiving wasn’t part of Martin Luther’s life. Thanksgiving Day is an American phenomenon. Although Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November since the first presidential proclamation in 1863, it wasn’t official until congressional legislation in 1941 made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday.

J.D. Schlegel Landscaping was my employer during seminary. The work was grueling as we endured the intense St. Louis heat and humidity, but I made some good friends and learned some important lessons. My crew focused on cutting grass—large yards in some posh neighborhoods. I even cut Stan Musial’s lawn.

A recent study of churches across the nation indicated that if pastors set time aside to get out of the office and into the community, the likelihood of unchurched people coming to Christ rises exponentially. It seems like common sense, but the study shows that churches accomplish results in sharing

About a year ago, I gathered in an office one weeknight to pray with two other women – friends from my community at The Vine. Our purpose was simple but deliberate. We would pray and ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the characteristics of someone He wanted to